How UAE Firms Can Attract Senior Interior Designers in 2026
If you’ve tried hiring senior Interior Designers in the UAE recently, you already know: the market is busy, the competition is tough, and candidates have more options than ever.
We speak with designers and studio leaders every day, and the same pattern keeps appearing — firms want great talent, but the way they hire often unintentionally slows things down.
Here are three simple shifts that make a big difference:
1. Speed is your biggest advantage
Top candidates in Interior Design move quickly. In 2025, we’re seeing senior designers receive first interviews within 48 hours and offers within 10–14 days.
If your process takes a month, you’re not losing candidates to competitors — you’re losing them to momentum.
Quick fix: Pre-align interview availability internally before starting recruitment. It cuts days off your timeline.
2. Portfolios matter more than job titles
Most senior designers today have hybrid backgrounds: FF&E + concept + site exposure. Great talent doesn’t always fit neatly into a job title.
Firms who look deeper into the story behind the work — not just the role — consistently secure stronger hires.
Quick fix: Ask candidates for a 3-page “highlight reel” instead of a full portfolio at the first stage. It helps you evaluate faster.
3. The best candidates choose culture, not just projects
In interviews, senior designers ask more about leadership, team structure and growth than ever before.
They want studios where they can belong, not just deliver.
Quick fix: In your first call, share a short narrative about your culture — how your team collaborates, learns, and designs. It’s surprisingly powerful.
Hiring great Interior Designers isn’t about having the biggest name or the flashiest project. It’s about removing friction and speaking to the things candidates actually care about.
If you’re building your team this quarter and want to tap into active and passive senior talent in the UAE and KSA, we're always happy to support.